“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star” (Revelation 22:16).
The last book of the Bible concludes with a promise of Christ’s coming return (Revelation 22:7-21), a message of hope to Christfollowers. I’ve heard Jesus referred to as the Root and Offspring of David before, but I never really thought of it as a message of hope. The hope in this verse is about the fulfillment of prophecy, that Jesus is who he claims to be. Let’s look at these names of Jesus a little closer:
The Root and Offspring of David
The Gospel of Luke traces Jesus’ ancestors through Joseph, his earthly father, through King David, back to Adam, and ends at God (Luke 3:23-38). Jesus, as part of the Triune God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) is at the beginning of Luke’s genealogy. Then as a man, the son of Joseph, Jesus is at the end of Luke’s genealogy, making him both the Root and the Offspring of David.
Why is this so significant? This confirms Jesus is both the creator of all things the rightful heir to the kingdom God promised to David in 2 Samuel.
When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son (2 Samuel 7:12-14).
The Bright Morning Star
In astronomy the term “morning star” is reference to the planet Venus. A few characteristics of Venus that parallel to our hope in Jesus:
- Venus appears before sunrise and points to the dawn of a new day. In a similar fashion, Jesus is a light in the darkness, pointing to our hope of new life.
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life’ (John 8:12).
- Venus is the brightest planet in the solar system. Jesus is the great light to those living in darkness.
…the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned” (Matthew 4:16).
- Venus is not just a ‘morning star’ but it is also an ‘evening star.’ Similarly, Jesus Christ, is called the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end.
For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him (Colossians 1:16).
- Unlike stars that twinkle, the planet Venus is a constant light. In a similar fashion, the light of Christ never wavers and never fails. He is our hope.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it (John 1:5).